Jamie Reid's sports betting blog - 02/11/09

Arsenal, a winning tip against Tottenham on Saturday, are now just five points behind table-toppers Chelsea with a game in hand and Gunners fans are daring to wonder if maybe this really could be their season.

The Blues remain favourites at 11-10 with Betfred but for all the strengths of Carlo Ancelotti's side there have been a few weak points too which is also the case with Man United. The Reds, 2-1 for the title with Betfred, returned to wining form against Blackburn at the weekend but their supporters are still trying to work out how they managed to lose so tamely to Liverpool the week before, especially in the light of the Scousers continued slump against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

It's hard to escape the view that the champions need reinforcements if they are going to retain their crown but in the meantime next Sunday's clash between United and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has the look of a pivotal game in what should be a pivotal month for all concerned.

It all leads up to the meeting between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates on November 29th and, with momentum building in North London, odds of 4-1 with Betfred that the Gunners lift the crown currently looks the best value about the top three teams.

Liverpool are 13-8 with Betfred to win Wednesday's absolutely vital Champions League tie against Lyons in France. The hosts are trading at 11-8 with a draw on offer at 11-5. In spite of a raft of injury problems and the deep and on-going concerns about the club, I have a feeling that with so much at stake Rafa Benitez will conjure the victory that will keep their flickering European hopes alive.

Fair Along, the wide margin winner of a graded staying race at Wetherby on Saturday, is 25-1 in places - and as short as 12-1 elsewhere - for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and the bigger price looks good each value.

The defending champion Big Bucks heads the market at 9-4 with Betfred and if fit and well he'll be very hard to beat. But a number of the other quoted horses are by no means certain runners. Zaynar is going for the Champion Hurdle and Punchestowns and Mikael D'Haguenet are going chasing while the latter's stable companion Fiveforthree has had a setback and will not be out until February or March.

Karabak, 14-1 with Betfred, has the scope to become a leading contender but that still leaves room for Fair Along who has winning form round Cheltenham and goes particularly well for jockey Rhys Flint. 

The Minnesota Vikings, a winning bet in yesterday's big NFL game at Green Bay, are down to 10-1 for SuperBowl glory with Betfred and are the new second favourites to win the NFC championship at 4-1 with Fred Done.

In what is developing in to a very strong NFC field, I also still like the Philadelphia Eagles who bounced back from an inexplicable loss to Oakland two weeks ago by slamming the stumbling New York Giants at home yesterday and the Eagles are in to 14-1 for the SuperBowl with Betfred  - and 6-1 for the NFC title - with the Giants going the other way and out to 22-1 for the big one with the Mancunian bookie.

The New Orleans Saints, who play tonight, head the SuperBowl market at 7-2 with the Indianapolis Colts, my tip from the AFC, in from 6-1 to 11-2.